“Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now.” — Eckhart Tolle

The passage of time is a fascinating thing. As a child, we want to fast forward life, as it seems to drag on, and as an adult we want things to move in slow motion because the days fly by.

When I was a kid, I never understood why some older people had to pause and think when asked their age. How could they not know off the top of their head? After all, I knew I was 10 and a half, with 143 days until my birthday.

Now I get it. I celebrated my 44th birthday this past Tuesday, yet my mind tells me I’m still 32. So yeah, I often have to do the math to be sure I’m getting my age right.

It comes down to the struggle to live in the moment. Right here, right now, is the very best time of your life. By spending it wishing you’ve done things differently or sooner, or eagerly anticipating being older, you rob yourself of the magic of this moment.

To help stay more present, try some of these ideas:

Ask yourself present-moment questions. Things like, “Where are my feet right now?” “What color socks am I wearing?” “What time is it?” Use any question that requires you to come back to the moment to answer it.

Take a look around. Scan the room or area you’re currently in and name five things you’ve never noticed before.

Scan your body. Take a couple deep breaths and do a mental scan of your body. Is there an area that feels tense or sore? Intentionally send your breath there.

When you consciously spend more time in the here and now, you begin to see the wonder of life much more clearly, and it’s that wonder that reveals possibilities, gifts, and opportunities — all of which are just waiting for you to invite them in.

So take some time, right now, and try those ideas above. Clear out some mental clutter and be with the magic of the moment.

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